Waste dump opponents 'not going to back down'

More than 200 people have marched in Tennant Creek to protest against a nuclear waste dump planned for Muckaty Station north of the town.

Traditional owner Diane Stokes says the chairman of the Central Land Council (CLC), Maurie Ryan, addressed the rally, declaring the CLC will support the protesters.

Mr Ryan told the crowd, the CLC is on a collision course with the Northern Land Council over how they have handled the Muckaty nomination.

Ms Stokes says it is time the CLC takes control of the country as far north as Elliott to support traditional owners in their bid to stop the dump going ahead.

"We were saying before about the boundaries to be put back now because Central Land Council is very strong on helping us out, supporting us in getting the boundary back to Elliott," she said.

She says representatives from Unions NT and the CLC travelled to Tennant Creek to join the rally.

"I'm very happy that we've marched and I know I want these people out there to know that we're still standing strong and I want to let the supporters know that I want to thank them for supporting us," she said.

Natalie Wasley from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative says the protesters recognise that the proposed nuclear waste dump is not just an NT issue.

"This is shaping up to be a very important issue in the Northern Territory for the federal election and so that was expressed very strongly at the rally, that people are going to be knocking [on] the doors of all the candidates and asking where they stand and are they going to stand up for the Territory on this issue," she said.

She says it has been six years since the site was nominated and no-one is planning to give up the fight.

"It was noted that this Muckaty campaign has outlasted many federal ministers, chief ministers and chairpeople and CEOs of the Northern Land Council," she said.

"The community is absolutely resolute and they're not going to back down.

"They're going to build up and radioactive waste is going to last even longer than all of those politicians."